The Hanging of Samuel Ash

By Sheldon Russell

Railroad bull Hook Runyon and his dog, Mixer, are chasing persistent pickpockets on the Santa Fe line, when Hook is called to investigate a malfunctioning wigwag signal in the middle of nowhere. A young man has been strung up there, hung from the signal, and left strangled to death. Hook finds no identification on the body, other than a bronze hero's medal around the corpse's neck, with the name Samuel Ash engraved on it. Refusing to bury what seems to be a World War II hero in a pauper's grave, Hook vows to find the dead boy's family, as well as his killer.

With the casket in tow, and slowed down by an over-educated sidekick, Junior Monroe, and a stream of new tasks from the head of division, Hook finally finds his way to Carmen, Oklahoma. But no one there has ever heard of anyone named Samuel Ash. There are secrets in Carmen, most of them associated with the local orphanage and its disliked director, and Hook is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery of the hanging of Samuel Ash.

Vivid characterizations, searing descriptions, and a twisty plot make Sheldon Russell's The Hanging of Samuel Ash a gripping read.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Publishers
• Release date: Aug 20, 2013
• ISBN: 9781250031990

Sheldon Russell

DR. SHELDON RUSSELL, Professor Emeritus, University of Louisville, and University of Central Oklahoma, is the author The Yard Dog, The Insane Train, and four previously published historical novels. He lives in Guthrie, Oklahoma.

Book preview

PROLOGUE

THE KNOT ON the rope, big as a man’s fist, scrubbed under his ear. It smelled of hemp and horse sweat. Heat lightning flashed on the horizon, an empty promise of rain, and thunder rumbled over the staked plains. The breeze fell still as death, and from somewhere crickets struck up a dirge.

The rope zinged over the cantilever of the railroad wigwag signal, its tail dancing just within reach. A snap of the rope jerked him onto his toes, and he looked up into the starlit night. Blood rushed beneath his eardrums, and he sucked air through his teeth.

Somewhere beyond the darkness, the whistle of a westbound train rose up. He turned his head against the rudeness of the rope to search out the engine light. His ankles burned, and his legs trembled under him. The rope, cinched tight, cut into his flesh. His thoughts gathered like a moment in eternity.

Hanging done right, he’d heard, proved a sweet way to die, the weight snapping the neck, so powerful its force that a miscalculation could pop the head from its mooring. The headless body, they said, sometimes stood and walked about. But such mercy would not be his, no drop to oblivion, no void, no pity this night.

The thunder rolled once more, and he wondered if it might rain. But then it never rained. The rope jerked tight. He reached for the ground with his toes and found it gone. Grasping the rope, he hung on with all that he had.

The roar of the westbound broke on the horizon. The lights of the wigwag signal, red as blood, flashed back and forth. The bell clanged in alarm, and the train whistle screamed from out of the blackness.

His arms trembled and burned, and when he could do no more, he released the rope. As he rose into the air, his eyes bulged, and his tongue swelled from between his teeth. His back arched, and his engorged genitalia stood erect. A light burned into his eyes, bright as the sun, and then receded to a point in the universe.

The train raced off into the darkness, and the night stilled. Lightning flickered on the horizon, but far away now and silent.

1

WHEN A FLY whined in his ear, Hook Runyon, Santa Fe railroad bull, sat up and rubbed at his face. The old passenger car waddled down the track like a duck in the shallows, and the air smelled of cigar smoke and stale food. The morning sun blasted through the window, and sweat trickled down his neck.

Now with the war over, both men and equipment had collapsed in exhaustion, and the maintenance shops had surrendered to the excesses of battle. What equipment could run did run, and to hell with everything else. If rolling stock wore out, the railroad shuttled it off to less-demanding routes, where the dilapidated cars continued to rattle along like tired old men.

Folks despaired with doing the impossible any longer, no matter who asked it, and wildcat strikes, often dangerous and unpredictable, cropped up like grass fires.

In the midst of this, Hook made a run in pursuit of pickpockets, traveling as far south as Pecos. In the end, he’d caught little more than a tequila hangover and a case of indigestion. The train cooler water tasted of chlorine, his back ached from the passenger seat, and both of his legs had gone dead as a side of beef.

To top off this misery, nothing gave him less pleasure than hunting pickpockets. Cowardly by nature, and opportunists of the lowest order, they preyed on the weak and defenseless. Relying on stealth, deception, and the goodwill of others, they stole whatever they could without regard for the consequences of their actions. Like coyotes, they hunted in packs for the easy kill, tugging the carcasses about among them before slinking off into the night. To make matters worse, Hook found the bastards almost impossible to catch.

He lit a cigarette and stared out the window at the passing landscape. In this country one direction looked as another, and the miles stretched out as monotonous as a cotton string. He checked his watch. The train should be arriving in Carlsbad, New Mexico, soon now. He’d be glad to get back to his caboose in Clovis, a modest abode to be sure, but home nonetheless and where he wanted to be.

The Santa Fe had towed his caboose from Albuquerque to Clovis shortly before he left for Pecos, parking it on a siding close to the depot baggage deck. Though not the most private place in the world, it beat the hell out of the Arizona salvage yard in which he’d been living the past few months.

The cook at the Clovis Harvey House promised he’d keep an eye on Hook’s dog, Mixer, providing a sawbuck showed up come payday. Hook hadn’t much confidence in the cook’s commitment to Mixer’s well-being but had agreed to the arrangement, figuring Mixer could take care of himself under most circumstances anyway.

Hook leaned back and scanned the car for any new passengers who might have boarded the train while he slept, spotting an old black lady sitting in the Jim Crow seat at the back. Across the aisle from her, a young soldier dozed with his hat pulled over his eyes.

A Mexican couple, with two kids in tow, sat near the bathroom. The little girl, thumb in her mouth and forefinger over her nose, slept in her mother’s lap, while the boy drew pictures in his Big Chief tablet. The mother, looking minutes away from her next delivery, propped her feet up on a cardboard box to ease the swelling in her ankles.

In the aisle seat next to the exit, a woman—young and fresh and dressed in a pink summer outfit—worked at her makeup. When the train slowed for the approaching depot, she hooked her black leather purse over her shoulder.

The engineer blew his whistle, and Hook checked his watch again. He’d have time to call Eddie Preston, the divisional supervisor, from the Carlsbad operator’s phone, though he didn’t look forward to reporting his failure to catch the pickpockets.

Having grown more belligerent over the years, Eddie now bordered on the intolerable, while at the same time Hook had become less inclined to suffer fools—the end result being war without resolution.

Hook figured to deal with Eddie first and then to find a lavatory where he could wash the Chihuahuan Desert from his body. After that, he’d catch the next milk run into Clovis. By tonight, he’d be sipping Beam and water and sleeping in his own bunk.

The passenger car lurched to a stop as they pulled into the station. Hook took a single suitcase down from the rack. He traveled light, often with no luggage at all. In this case, he knew the trip to Pecos to be a long haul and with little chance of a layover, so he’d thrown in a change of clothes and a couple of titles to read along the way.

He waited at the door of the car for the girl in pink to work her way down the steps. He paused at the bottom for a last look back. Failing to see that the girl in pink had stopped in front of him, he bumped into her, nearly spilling her onto the platform.

Oh, Christ, he said, catching her by the arm. I’m sorry. Are you okay?

Recovering, she brushed the hair back from her face. No harm, she said, smiling. My fault.

Hook watched her walk away. At the corner she turned and looked back at him.

He found the operator working up tickets. Hook didn’t recognize him, but then the company bumped operators around from depot to depot like traveling salesmen.

Pushing the tickets aside, the operator said, Yeah?

Need to use your phone, Hook said.

The operator pushed his glasses onto his forehead and looked at Hook’s arm prosthesis.

This phone ain’t for public use, fella. Gotta keep the line open. Never know when a train might arrive on time and stampede the whole goddang place.

I’m railroad security, Hook said. What’s your name?

John Beauford, he said.

Been chasing pickpockets down in Pecos. I need to get hold of Division.

The operator took his glasses off, fogged them up with his breath, rubbed them clean with his shirttail, and slipped them back on. His eyes grew big behind the lens.

That so, he said, peeking around Hook’s shoulder. Guess you got them pickpockets cuffed up outside so’s they don’t crowd up the waiting room?

Pickpockets is like trying to catch mice, Hook said. Grab one and three more run up your pant leg.

The operator nodded. I seen one steal a candy bar right out of an old lady’s mouth, he said. Took her false teeth right along with it. Wasn’t nothing left but a dab of chocolate on the end of her nose.

About that phone? Hook said.

Anything to help out the law, but I’ll need to see your badge. You know how persnickety the railroad can be about its equipment.

Right, Hook said, searching for his badge.

The operator drummed the counter with his fingers while Hook went through his pockets.

My badge and wallet seem to be missing, Hook said.

That a fact?

Hook clenched his jaw. Sons of bitches must have lifted it.

Now ain’t that irregular? he said. A man might think a rail dick would know better than to get his own pockets picked while tracking down pickpockets.

Let me use the phone, Hook said. Division can clear this up.

You better move on downline, mister, he said.

And how the hell am I supposed to get a pass to Clovis?

Buy a ticket like everyone else. I never knew a bum yet what didn’t think he had the right to get something for nothing. I get up every day, put my britches on, and go to work, so I figure you can do the same. If not, there’s the Salvation Army down on Fifth.

Hook leaned into the window of the cage. Listen, brass pounder, I’m the yard dog out of Clovis. Maybe I’ll just come around there and kick your ass to prove it.

The operator stepped back. You better move on, mister, or I’ll call the cops.

Hook took a deep breath. A yard dog’s authority didn’t hold much water with local cops, and he had enough trouble going already. He walked to the door and turned.

When’s the next milk run to Clovis? he asked.

Three o’clock, he said. But I wouldn’t be thinking of hopping her if I was you. Bums don’t get far on this line. Anyway, that engineer’s a ballast scorcher, and he don’t slow for boes or no one else.

Outside, Hook checked his watch. He hated to admit it, but the son of a bitch had a point. A rail dick ought know better than to get his pockets picked. He figured that dame in pink had set him up, and he fell for it. While he mumbled apologies, she could have lifted his boxer shorts, and he’d never have known it.

He peeked through the depot window and could see the operator talking on the phone. Hook didn’t believe in revenge, being above it morally, but he figured to get even with that bastard someday.

Having bummed the rails in another life, he knew how to hop a freighter with the best of them. If that’s what it took to get home, then that’s what he’d do. In the meantime, he’d find some shade and wait it out.

As he turned to leave, a patrol car with two uniform cops in it pulled up next to him.

The driver stuck his head out the window. Hey you, he said.

Hook paused. Me?

That’s right. You.

What do you want? Hook asked.

The cop on the passenger’s side got out and walked around the car.

Want you to put your hands on the hood, he said.

Hook held up his prosthesis. I only have one.

Hey, chief, he said, kicking Hook’s feet apart. We got us a smart-ass here.

The other cop got out.

Going through Hook’s pockets, he said, Threatening a railroad operator can get you into serious trouble around here. But being a smart-ass can get you hurt.

I’m the Santa Fe railroad bull, Hook said.

A one-armed cinder dick? Now there’s a rarity. Let’s see your badge.

Hey, chief, the other cop said, holding Hook’s weapon up by the barrel. He’s packing, too.

I lost the badge, Hook said.

Say what? the chief said.

I lost it.

He pulled at his chin. You lost your badge, did you?

That’s right.

Well, let’s see your driver’s license then.

Hook shrugged. It’s in the billfold with my badge.

The chief twisted his mouth to the side. You’ve had a run of bad luck, haven’t you? Cuff him up, Joe. We’ll run him in for vagrancy and carrying.

Officer Joe slipped cuffs from his belt and paused. But he’s only got one arm, chief.

Then cuff him to your own damned self, Joe.

He could kill a man with that hook, chief.

Put your gun on him then.

But what if he tries to run?

Jesus, Joe, then shoot him, he said.

2

HOOK SAT IN the cell studying the beetle that climbed up the wall. Just as it reached its destination, it tumbled to the floor, flipped itself over, and started up again.

He reached for a cigarette, remembering that Officer Joe had taken them before putting him in the cell. At least they hadn’t brought the drunks in yet. That usually didn’t happen until the bars had been open for a while.

Just as he stretched out on the bunk, with its layered odors, Officer Joe opened the cell door.

Chief says you can make a call. One, he said, holding up his finger.

That’s all I’ve been trying to do since I landed in this dump, Hook said.

Make it a good one, he said. A smart-ass can get thirty days in this hotel with no trouble at all.

He led Hook to the office, where the chief sat behind his desk reading the funny papers. Hook’s cigarettes lay on his desk.

Mind if I have one of my smokes?

The chief tossed them over to him. Phone’s there, he said. You got two minutes.

I’d like a little privacy, Hook said.

And I’d like a stripteaser cooking my breakfast, the chief said.

Hook lit a cigarette and picked up the phone. He turned his back to the chief and dialed Eddie Preston.

Security, Eddie said.

Eddie, Hook here.

Runyon, he said. Don’t you ever check in?

Jesus, Eddie. That’s what I’m doing.

I get this call from Clovis, he said. From the operator at the depot. He says there’s a dog spraying up the baggage every time a train comes in. So I says, ‘What kind of dog is it?’ And he says, ‘What the hell difference does that make?’ And I says, ‘It don’t make a goddang bit of difference, so just handle it your own damn self.’ And he says, ‘I ain’t altogether sure it’s even a dog. It might be an African hyena, though I don’t know what an African hyena would be doing in New Mexico.’ So I says, ‘What the hell does an African hyena have to do with me?’ And he says, ‘’Cause it’s living under Hook Runyon’s caboose, and he’s one of your crack detectives, if I ain’t mistaken.’

Look, Eddie, maybe we could talk about African hyenas some other time. I’m in a bit of a jam-up here, and I only have a couple minutes.

What kind of jam-up would you be in now, Runyon?

I lost my wallet and badge.

You lost them?

Not exactly lost. They were stolen.

Stolen? How the hell does someone steal a yard dog’s badge and wallet?

Pickpockets.

He could hear Eddie breathing on the other end. For Christ’s sake, Runyon, you’re telling me pickpockets stole your wallet and badge while you were hunting pickpockets?

These bastards are good, Eddie. The best I’ve ever seen.

Where are you now?

Carlsbad jail.

They ain’t likely to be in jail what with you on their trail, Runyon.

I’m the one who’s in jail, Eddie. I need you to verify who I am.

You’re the biggest idiot in New Mexico, he said.

Come on, Eddie. My time’s about up here. Tell the chief who I am, and then call the operator at the depot so I can get the hell out of this place.

I’d let you sit until you grassed over, Runyon, if I didn’t have urgent business that needed attending. Let me talk to him.

Thanks, Eddie.

And phone me the minute you get back to the depot.

Right, Hook said, handing the phone to the chief. It’s Eddie Preston, division supervisor. He wants to talk to you.

The chief took the phone. Yeah, he said, leaning back in his chair. "Pickpockets, you say? You’re shitting me, right?

Yeah, okay. You might want to pin a note to your boy’s shirt, he said, looking up at Hook. I’ll send him on his way. Wouldn’t want to hold up a crime fighter like him, would I?

The chief hung up the phone and rolled his shoulders. Looks like you’re free to go, Runyon.

I’ll take my sidearm, if you don’t mind, Hook said.

The chief pulled open a drawer and handed it to him. Don’t let someone take it away from you and shoot you in the ass, he said.

And how about a ride back to the depot, chief?

Joe, give Clark Kent here a ride back to the depot, will you? He’s in a rush to flush out some more pickpockets.

*   *   *

Hook rode in the backseat of the patrol car in silence. Every once in a while, Officer Joe would look at him through the rearview mirror and shake his head.

When they’d pulled up to the depot, Officer Joe said, Just give us a call if anyone takes your lunch money. It’s a dangerous world out there.

Hook got out and paused at Joe’s window. You might consider taking up a second job, Officer Joe, maybe security out to the drive-in theater or guarding the ticket gate for the high school football games.

What the hell you talking about?

Just something I overheard the chief say. I wouldn’t worry about it if I was you.

*   *   *

The operator looked up at Hook, folded his arms over his chest, and said, How was I supposed to know?

’Cause I told you, Hook said.

You got to admit you don’t look like no yard dog.

And you don’t look like a moron. Now, do you think I could use that phone?

Sure, he said, pushing it over to Hook.

Hook paused. You mind?

I’ll be out front. Jesus, he said.

Hook dialed Eddie, who picked up on the second ring.

Security, he said.

Eddie, this is Hook. I’m at the depot.

You know that siding north of Carlsbad, the one that goes to the potash mine?

More or less, Hook said.

The engineer on the short haul, while coming back from the mine about three this morning, said the wigwag signal had something hanging over it.

What was it?

How the hell do I know? That’s why I’m telling you. Probably some Halloween prank.

This is June, Eddie.

The union’s been stirring things up and down the line. Maybe they sabotaged the signal to get attention.

Hook clenched his jaw. Union problems were even more disagreeable than hunting pickpockets, and he didn’t like being caught between strikers and the company.

How am I supposed to get out there, Eddie? It’s in the middle of nowhere, you know.

Hang on, let me see if I can locate something.

Hook rolled the operator’s chair over and sat down. From there he could see the operator out front. Every once in a while, he would peek through the window to see if Hook had hung up yet.

Runyon, Eddie said.

Yeah.

There’s a road-rail over at the Artesia depot. The track crew won’t be using it for a few weeks. Catch the next train over there and pick it up. Make damn sure you get clearance before pulling onto the line with that thing.

Hook dropped his head. A road-rail, being a vehicle with hydraulic equipment for running both road and track, was neither fish nor fowl. Its claim to fame lay in the number of railroad employees it killed every year.

Jesus, Eddie, can’t you just get me a car?

I can get you a long vacation.

Alright, Eddie. How about sending me another badge?

It’s coming out of your pay, Runyon. They don’t give those things away. He paused. At least most people don’t.

Alright, Eddie. I’ll catch the next run.

By the way, Runyon, the department has taken on a new man, a crackerjack, a smart son of a bitch, dictator of his graduating class.

Valedictorian, Eddie.

Whatever. He’s shy on experience, so I’m sending him to Clovis.

That’s great, Eddie. Clovis could use a dictator. But what does it have to do with me?

I want you to show him the ropes.

I don’t have time to deal with some kid, Eddie.

Did I ask? I don’t remember asking, and don’t be teaching him bad habits. Stay off the hooch. This kid is the goddamn future, and his old man is important. Oh, and call me soon as you get that wigwag thing cleared. The railroad don’t stand for no one tampering with its signals.

Hook hung up. He could hear the milk run in the distance. The operator stuck his head in the door.

I got work to do, you know.

Radio a slow to that milk run, Hook said. Official business.

*   *   *

Hook waited on the platform for the caboose to come downline. He set a pace, latched on to the grab iron, and swung up. So far, it had been one hell of a day. The way he figured it, things could only get better.

3

WHEN THEY CAME into Artesia, Hook swung down from the caboose and waited for the train to pull out. He made his way into the depot. The operator sat with his feet up on the desk and his hands behind his head.

I’m the bull out of Clovis, Hook said. Division says there’s a road-rail here that I can use for a couple weeks.

Gotta badge? he asked, grinning.

Operators got anything to do besides gossip? Hook said.

It’s parked around back. I’d about as soon ride a mule myself.

I’m heading back to the potash switch. Is the line clear?

Checking the board, he said, There’s a mail run out of Pecos coming through about three, and a westbound short haul on the potash spur due about midnight. After that, she’s clear ’til morning.

I should have been an operator myself, Hook said. "Sit around with my feet up while everybody else is